VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Some members of the Surabaya City Legislative Council (DPRD), emphasized forming a special committee to monitor handling of COVID-19 cases, following a spike in those exposed to the virus in the East Java provincial capital.

As quoted by Antara, Deputy Chairman of the Surabaya City Legislative Council A. Hermas Thony stated on Friday, that the city administration was less transparent in handling the COVID-19 outbreak.

He explained when the legislative council sought data from the Surabaya city administration, they never responded to the request properly.

The commissions in the legislative council, have summoned the city administration, but they never sent a report.

The proposal for setting up the special committee is part of the council’s efforts, to protect the public from the coronavirus crisis, he noted, adding that the special committee can cooperate with the Surabaya City Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling//Ant

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will help micro, small, medium-scale enterprises or MSME, to gain access to five assistance schemes, prepared by the government for economic protection and recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The ministry has collected data on people working in the tourism and creative economy sector, who have been affected by COVID-19.About 213 thousand workers in the tourism and creative economy sector, have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak in 34 provinces, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wishnutama Kusubandio, said in a statemen as quoted by Antara. The assistance to be channeled to them will be coordinated with concerned institutions and ministries, he remarked.The ministry would also continue to develop an independent program to empower MSME entrepreneurs in the tourism and creative economy sector//Ant

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has requested the people to purchase food from small local businesses to acknowledge and commend farmers, who are the producers.Stephen Rudgard, the FAO representative in Indonesia as quoted by Antara, stated it is time for us to pay attention to one another and to laud the people, who produce food, on the frontlines of this pandemic. The FAO also urged people to shop sensibly, follow healthy diets, and be wary while handling food. Overall, the FAO delivered eight appeals to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, including maintaining hand hygiene while buying food from markets or supermarkets, advised to not stockpile food at home. FAO has also appealed to the community to be helpful in accordance with their respective abilities to share food or support food banks, community groups, or charities that provide free food for vulnerable people//Ant

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing or PUPR, has offered construction projects of five toll roads and a bridge, worth trillions to investors during a teleconference meeting in Jakarta.The six projects offered during the market sounding session are the Semanan-Balaraja toll road construction, with investment totaling Rp15.52 trillion; Cikunir-Ulujami toll road worth Rp15.52 trillion; Sentul Selatan-Karawang Barat toll road, with total investment of Rp15.37 trillion; Patimban toll road worth Rp7.52 trillion; Semarang Harbour toll road worth Rp11.76 trillion; and a bridge connecting the islands of Batam and Bintan, with investment amounting to Rp8.77 trillion.

As quoted by Antara Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that he is optimistic, that all potential investors attending the market sounding session, would find our offers attractive, as several facilities and services are provided by the Investment Coordinating Board or BKPM, to support them in doing business in toll construction and other infrastructure projects//Ant